Hello everyone. First time poster, long time lurker.

I finished my MLIS (MISt here in Toronto) in April, and officially graduated (at the top of the class I might mention) in June. I worked my student job as a library tech in the central library on campus until the end of September, when I had to leave because I was no longer registered as a student. During my two years I could not break in to a graduate position on the reference desk. Now I am forced to temp to make ends meet, and even then I am just scraping by.

During this time I must have applied to almost 40 job postings all over Canada, and some to the US. I have received call backs for only 6 interviews. And I did get one job offer, but turned it down more for personal reasons than professional ones: it was in a smaller and distant city, and my partner was sorting out her career as well at the time, and we decided against it.

Boy, do I regret that decision now.

Over these six months I have improved my application until it is as good as it can be. I have had my letter and resume reviewed by multiple working academic librarians, all who said it was an outstanding application, better then they usually get. I have crafted and honed them until they showcase who I am and the passion I bring, without being overconfident.

When I do get an interview they seem to go very well (except one I futzed up). Those who were kind enough to give feedback (do you know how hard it is to even get them to call you after an interview!?!), they say I did an excellent job. Personable, passionate, engaged. My latest rejection person said that I was outstanding.

I was even honoured to be nominated by a former president of the Canadian Library Association to attend a summit with the top senior professionals and association members as a junior professional representative.

Yet, what does everyone say when I don't get the job? Someone had more reference experience! Is that what it's come down to, asking open and closed questions, over all of the soft leadership and interpersonal skills I was told time and time again were more important? I've participated on committees. Some students and I formed an advocacy task force at our school to lobby the administration for changes in our Faculty. I am ready to spread this love I have for the library and ideas through outreach and public service.

Yet, I don't have enough reference experience! Well, this is the classic Catch-22: Everyone wants practical experience from me, but no one will give me a job.

What is even more ironic? I seem to get most of my interviews at the larger universities in urban centres. They want more experience (why even call me in then, you can see from my resume what experience I have!?!?).

Everyone says I need to get out of the city to get experience. But the smaller, more distant schools won't even call me!

HELP!

Something to consider here is that a good number of people in this field have experienced what you are experiencing: a tight job market and frustrations with employers not giving you a shot. With that being said, I want to reaffirm how important it is to roll with the punches when you are job hunting, and regroup after each interview that hasn't panned out.

I'll take the time to tell you that if you are getting interviews with your resume, you should pat yourself on the back. Some people in this field will send out piles and piles of resumes and never get a call back for an interview (these people must be pulling their hair out.) If your lack of experience in a reference setting is what is keeping you from landing fulfilling library employment, I'll stress the importance of looking at volunteering in a challenging reference setting if you can swing the time, and you can find a library that is interested in your services. Also, look at professional development opportunities while you are waiting to find a fulfilling job. I think people often overlook the fact that relevant professional development (and this includes attending conferences, seminars, etc.) is a way of fine-tuning your skills, and building your skill set. "Experience" also includes how you keep current in the field. Networking has always been a crucial element in landing a job you are happy with, and if you are out there seeking professional development opportunities you are setting yourself up to land a job.

Keep your head up; I've been having similar discussions with other people like you lately. Keep at it.

Folks, just try and remain positive in this tight library job market. My thoughts are always with you.

Your best bet to cover the experience requirement is to volunteer. This means you may have to travel some distance to a smaller place, or work really stinky hours (Friday nights and Saturday mornings), but it is then on paper that you have experience in the real world. You will also have a current reference for that area. There are lots of people out there in the same boat--and even with experience, it is a hard time to move. A year is probably a reasonable time frame, even if you are not being overly picky about where you go.

I do think some librarians, at least in the US, would have a bias against experience at a two year college (community college or junior college in US parlance). But maybe this won't be a problem so much if you are fantastic in other capacities and get involved with national organizations and are professionally active.

I think this might be a case for an online portfolio of skills. Should you work for a lower level institution, you need to sell your skills and knowledge, which would be a good use of an online document showing how you apply knowledge. It is something to consider, at least.